I am sure this is not a unique experience to me and many people who grew up in an urban center in Kenya can relate to this.
In many schools in Kenya, children are often discouraged and even punished in some cases for speaking in Kiswahili or indigenous African languages. It is drummed into them that English is the standard language of communication and if they wish to succeed as adults, they must have a thorough grasp of the language.
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Most urban kids aren't too fond of their African names, society looks down on natural african hair and the closer you are to European likeness in features and mannerisms, the more 'modern' and 'sophisticated' you are considered.
All this can damage the esteem of an African child who has to fit into a mold that wasn't meant for them.
The founders of Children in Freedom School in Nakuru, Oku & Utheri Kanayo wanted to remedy this situation and in 2018, they founded what they claim is the only Afrocentric school in East Africa.
The Mission & Vision statement of Children in Freedom School states that they aim to 'Reclaim Africa's glory on the global stage by recognising the greatness inherent in every African child, nurturing it from an early age, and preparing them to use their greatness to design solutions that will change their local communities and the global world'.
At Children in Freedom school, kids walk around wearing colorful kente, ankara and dashiki as part of their uniform. They are encouraged to express themselves in African indigenous languages and subjects are taught both in English and Kiswahili. Children introduce themselves with their African names and all co-curricular activities are centered on the spirit of ubuntu.
Here, kids are taught to be proud of their African history, heritage and culture. They have special cultural days every school term and their education philosophy is rooted in Pan Africanism.
If you'd like to know more about this Afrocentric school, call +254717302397or email info@cifschool.sc.ke
